Ex-Prime Minister Warns: Netanyahu’s Strategy Leads to ‘Gaza Quagmire’

Ehud Barak, a former Prime Minister of Israel, has urged the country to conduct new elections to rebuild trust in its leadership. He expressed concern over the current strategy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, highlighting the risk it poses in straining relations with the United States and entangling Israel in the ongoing Gaza conflict.

Barak criticized Netanyahu’s reluctance to publicly discuss future strategies for Gaza after military operations cease, labeling it as irresponsible. He believes this lack of clear political objectives is detrimental not only to the war efforts but also to Israel’s long-term diplomatic relations.

In his op-ed for Haaretz, Barak stressed that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are hindered by the absence of a defined political goal. He warned that without a realistic objective, Israel might find itself deeply stuck in the Gaza situation, facing challenges on multiple fronts including Lebanon and the West Bank. This could potentially erode the crucial support from the United States and jeopardize the Abraham Accords, as well as the peace agreements with Egypt and Jordan.

Barak pointed to a proposal from the Biden administration in November, which suggested a rejuvenated Palestinian Authority assuming control over Gaza post-war. He sees this as the only viable plan to progress and emphasizes Israel’s need to engage in future discussions aimed at a two-state solution.

Netanyahu’s recent statements seemingly dismissing the establishment of a Palestinian state have increased tensions between the United States and Israel. This stance directly contradicts the position of one of Netanyahu’s key allies, US President Joe Biden, who has consistently supported a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.